Speed controlled centrifugal valve



June 1949- w. H. HARSTICK SPEED CONTROLLED CENTRIFUGAL VALVE Filed June 24, 1946 Aiiy Patented June 21, 1949 SPEED CONTROLLED CENTRIFUGAL VALVE -William H. Harstick, Oak Park, 111., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 24, 1946, Serial No. 678,865

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a centrifugal separator and more particularly to a type of separator used in the separation of whole milk. More specifically it relates to a self-washing cream separating bowl.

It is a prime object of this invention to provide an improved type of self-washing cream separating bowl. Self-washing cream separating bowls are generally provided with peripheral discharge or washing outlets which contain centrifugal valves operable to regulate the washing outlets at a predetermined speed of rotation of the separating bowl. Washing liquid is supplied to the bowl after the separating operation is completed, and at the predetermined speed of rotation the valves open, thus permitting a discharge of the washing liquid and the resulting flushing 01" the separating bowl.

It is another object to provide an improved peripheral valve construction for a self-washing type separating bowl.

It is another object to provide a substantially continuous annular peripheral discharge opening for a self-washing cream separating bowl, said opening being provided with an improved resilient ring valve.

It is stil1 another object to provide a peripheral valve means for a self-washing cream separating bowl, said valve means including a spring operable sealing ring.

It is still another object to provide a peripheral centrifugally operable discharge valve for a self-washing cream separating bowl, said discharge valve including a sealing ring having a coil spring embedded therein.

Other objects will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a centrifugal cream separating bowl having portions broken away to disclose pertinent parts of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the cream separating bowl taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a cream separating bowl is generally indicated by the reference character ii? and includes an upper bowl portion H and a lower bowl portion 12. The bowl I0 is provided with inner sloping surfaces I3 and I4 converging at a maximum periphery as indicated at [5.

A substantially continuous annular distil charge opening it is provided at this maximum periphery, this discharge opening being interrupted only by a pluralit of projections or spacer members i? integrally formed with the lower bowl portion l2. A clamping ring 18 is threaded on the lower bowl portion l2 and suitably engages the upper bowl portion H to rigidly clamp the portions together. The clamping ring i8 is also provided with a substantially continuous annular discharge opening [9 in aline ment with the discharge opening it. The discharge opening l9 is formed with a plurality of connecting projections 20, as best indicated and shown in Figure 2. It can be seen that the projections i? are diverging in shape and primarily serve as spacer elements between the upper bowl portion H and the lower bowl portion it, thus in efiect providing the substantially continuous annular discharge slot it. The number of these diverging projections or spacers may vary, it being only necessary to have a sufficient number so that the bowl portions are properly spaced.

The upper bowl portion H is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending wings 2i which suitably support a disk pack 22 consisting of a plurality of separating disks 2-3. The inner peripheries of the separating disks 23 form a cylindrical space generally indicated at 2 3. Centrally positioned within the cylindrical space 24 is a milk inlet tube 25 in communication with a distributor chamber 26. The distributor chamber 26 is in communication with a. milk distributing passage 2i formed by openings in the separating disks 23.

A centrifugally operable valve member for regulating the discharge opening it is provided in the form of an annular sealing element or ring 28. The ring 28 is cylindrical in shape and is preferably made of a resilient material such as rubber or any other type of rubber-like material. The ring 23 normally lies adjacent to the maxi mum internal periphery of the converging surfaces H and it and is coextensive with the annulardischarge opening it. A cylindrical metallic spring 29 is centrally embedded within the ring 28 and is coextensive and extensible therewith. The downwardly projecting wings 2! are slotted as indicated at 333 to permit necessary contraction of the ring 28.

A. supply nozzle generally designated at 3! projects from a supply can (not shown), said nozzle ill including a mill; feed tube 32 and a washing liquid supply tube 33. The milk feed tube 32 and the liquid supply tube 33 are in communication with the milk inlet tube 25 and the cylindrical space 24 respectively. A cream outlet 34 is formed in the lower bowl portion 82, said cream outlet being in communication with the cylindrical space 24. A skim milk outlet 35 is formed in the upper bowl portion I l.

A tin-ware construction 38 consists of a skim milk receiving chamber 31 in communication with a skim milk spout 38. The cream outlet 35 is in communication with a cream receiving chamber 39 which in turn is in communication with a cream spout 4D.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, an annular resilient sealing ring 28 includes a cylindrical spring 29 eccentrically embedded within the ring and coextensive therewith. The function of this sealing ring is similar to the ring 28. The eccentric position of the spring and the greater flexible sealing surface of the ring will permit a positive sealing of the discharge opening, while proper balance of the bowl will be maintained.

The bowl I is rotated by means of a driving member M securely keyed to the lower bowl portion l2. The driving member 2! is suitably connected to a manual drive shaft or a power means not shown.

For the purpose of this invention, the separating operation need not be described since it is readily apparent to one skilled in the art. During the high-speed rotation of separating bowl normally required for separating the whole milk, the

valve ring 23 securely seals the discharge opening iii. The centrifugal force of the rotating bowl is sufficient to overcome the inherent resilient action of the valve ring 28 and the cylindrical spring 29. The valve ring 28 is elfective to seal the opening it approximately at a speed of 6000 R. P. M. of the separating bowl I0.

After completing separation of the whole milk, it is then desired to wash the interior of the separating bowl and its associated parts. This can be done without dismantling the bowl in any manner whatsoever. The speed of rotation of the separating bowl Iii is lowered sufiiciently so that the bowl approaches approximately 6000 R. P. M. Washing liquid is then introduced through the supply tubes 32 and 33 into the cylindrical space 2% and the distributor chamber 26. The washing liquid is brought up to the same speed of rotation as the separating bowl H3. The energy required to bring the washing liquid up to this speed is suificient to further slow down the bowl, and at this point the centrifugal force is no longer sufficient to overcome resiliency of the valve ring 28 and the spring 29. The valve ring and the spring thereupon contract to their normal position, thereby leaving the discharge openings E6 in the open position. A sufficient amount of washing liquid is added to the cylindrical space 24 to keep this space filled during the washing. The washing liquid thereupon is thrown outwardly between the disks to flush them clean and then is discharged through the opening uncovered by the contracted valve and spring. The interior of the bowl, and the disks, are thereby completely cleansed.

The spring 29 provides a resiliency which is readily controllable so that the washing and flushing of the separating bowl can be regulated to take place at a predetermined R. P. M. of the separating bowl. The spring also serves to give the resilient ring 28 sufficient rigidity thereby assuring effective and positive sealing function of the ring when desired. As can be seen from the operation, this feature is of prime importance in a self-washing cream separating bowl of this type.

It is thus readily apparent that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it is to be understood that additional modifications may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention as disclosed nor as defined within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising a continuous annular rubber sealing element adapted to be supported adjacent to and inwardly from a continuous annular discharge opening, and a metallic resilient member embedded within said sealing element, said resilient member extending substantially throughout said sealing element, and means arranged and constructed for supporting and rotating said sealing element whereby said sealing element is expandable by centrifugal force to seal the discharge opening upon a predetermined speed of rotation of the valve member.

2. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising an annular rubber sealing element adapted to be positioned adjacent to and inwardly from a discharge opening, and an annular spring connected to said rubber sealing element, the connection being substantially coextensive with said rubber sealing element, said sealing element and said spring being arranged and constructed to expand and contract in response to centrifugal force during rotation'of the valve member whereby the sealing element is adapted to engage the discharge opening for regulating the flow of liquids therethrough.

3. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising a resilient/sealing ring of rubber-like material, said ring being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and inwardly from an annular discharge opening, and a spring embedded within said ring and extending substantially throughout said ring, said spring and sealing ring being adapted to expand and engage the discharge opening in response to centrifugal force upon a predetermined speed of rotation of the valve member.

4. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising a rubber sealing ring adapted to be positioned adjacent to and coextensive with a discharge opening, and a spring embedded within the rubber ring, said spring extending substantially throughout said ring, and means arranged and constructed for rotating said sealing ring whereby said sealing ring and said spring are movable to seal the discharge opening in response to centrifugal force during rotation.

5. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising a. rubber sealing ring adapted to be positioned adjacent to and inwardly from a discharge opening, a cylindrical spring coextensive with and embedded within said ring, and means for supporting said ring for rotation about its own axis, said ring and spring being expandable by centrifugal force to seal the discharge opening and to regulate the discharge of liquids through the opening upon rotation of said valve member.

6. A centrifugal valve means comprising a ring of deformable elastic material having a tension spring embedded therein substantially throughout its length, said ring being radially expansible during rotation of the same about its own axis, and means for rotating said ring, said spring being arranged and constructed to hold said ring away from a valve opening until a predetermined centrifugal force overcomes the spring action and said ring is expanded to seal the valve opening.

7. A centrifugal valve member adapted to seal the peripheral discharge opening of a rotatable valve casing comprising, a ring of deformable elastic material having a metallic springconnected thereto and extending substantially throughout the length of said ring, said ring being rotatable with a valve casing and being positioned adjacent to and inwardly from the discharge opening, and said spring being constructed and arranged to hold said ring away from the discharge opening until a predetermined centrifugal force overcomes the spring action and seats said ringover the opening for sealing the same.

8. A valve member including a cylindrical ring of deformable elastic material, and a continuous coil spring embedded within the ring and extending substantially throughout the length of the same, said ring being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and coextensive with an annular discharge opening, the ring being rotatable about its own axis, and said spring being arranged and constructed to hold said ring from the discharge opening until centrifugal force overcomes the action of the spring and seats the ring over the opening thereby closing the same.

WILLIAM H. HARSTICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenrces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

